First Congress of Dong Thap Provincial Alliance of Literature and Arts Associations: Expanding the Creative Space

(DTO) On September 15, the Dong Thap Provincial Alliance of Literature and Arts Associations held its first Congress of Delegates for the 2026-2031 term. The event marked an important milestone following the merger of the Literature and Arts Associations of Dong Thap and Tien Giang provinces, opening up a broader creative space for local artists and writers.  

Attending the congress were Associate Professor, PhD holder and musician Do Hong Quan, Vice Chairman of the Central Committee of the Vietnam Fatherland Front and Chairman of the Vietnam Alliance of Literature and Arts Associations; Nguyen Thi Kim Tuyen, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Head of the Provincial Party Committee’s Propaganda and Education Commission; Dinh Van Dung, Member of the Standing Committee of the Provincial Party Committee and Permanent Vice Chairman of the Provincial Vietnam Fatherland Front Committee; and other delegates. 

During the previous term, despite difficulties caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the need to renew its activities, and the process of restructuring and merging organizations, the Provincial Alliance of Literature and Arts Associations worked to maintain its operations, develop new ways of bringing artists and writers together, organize creative activities, promote works, and carry out assigned political tasks. 

A wide range of creative activities, exhibitions, exchanges, and promotional programs were organized. Members won 903 provincial-level awards, 62 regional awards, and 73 national and international awards, while more than 7,000 books and collections were published. Following the merger, the Alliance launched Dong Thap Arts and Literature Review, a 100-page full-color publication with a circulation of 1,000 copies per issue. It also actively participated in cultural and artistic activities serving the Sa Dec Flower and Ornamental Plant Festival, Lotus Festival, Dong Thap Fruit Festival and other events, contributing to the promotion of the province's image and the development of local tourism. 

Entering the new term, under the motto “Solidarity, Renewal, Creativity and Outreach,” the Alliance has identified three breakthrough priorities: discovering and nurturing young creative talent as well as literary and arts critics; shifting from broad-based investment to commissioned projects and targeted support for works with greater scale and depth; and building the “Dong Thap Digital Literature and Arts Space,” with the goal of completing a digitized database of notable authors and works before 2030. 

The congress agreed on several key targets, including admitting 15-20 new members each year; recommending 5-10 members annually for membership in central-level specialized associations; publishing at least 50 books and literature and arts publications; and organizing at least five exhibitions or displays and five author-and-work introduction programs each year. The Alliance will also advise on establishing the Dong Thap Provincial Literature and Arts Award, building on the Nguyen Quang Dieu Award and the Thu Khoa Huan Award. At the same time, it will prepare the necessary conditions to upgrade Dong Thap Arts and Literature Review into a magazine in the future. 

Speaking at the congress, Associate Professor, PhD holder and musician Do Hong Quan praised the achievements of Dong Thap's artists and writers. He called on the Alliance in the new term to continue building a united organization and creating a favorable environment for artists and writers to pursue creative freedom; stay closely connected to real life and draw on the cultural and historical values of the newly expanded province; link literature and the arts with developing tourism, cultural industry and creative economy; accelerate digital transformation and the appropriate use of technology and artificial intelligence; and pay greater attention to copyright protection and creative ethics. 

At the congress, Dinh Van Dung called on the Alliance to further strengthen its organization, with creative work as its mission, artistic works as its ultimate goal, the public as its audience, and digital transformation as an important space for expanding the promotion and outreach of literature and arts. He emphasized the need to identify and nurture young talent, improve the quality of artistic works, and bring literature and arts closer to the people, especially younger generations. He also called for creative activities to be linked with promoting the image of the province, developing tourism, and advancing the cultural industry. 

At the congress, delegates agreed on the direction, goals and key tasks for the 2026-2031 term and adopted the Congress Resolution. The congress elected a 25-member Executive Committee for the first term of the Dong Thap Provincial Alliance of Literature and Arts Associations, with Truong Trong Nghia elected as Chairman for the 2026-2031 term. 

On this occasion, the Vietnam Alliance of Literature and Arts Associations presented an Excellent Emulation Flag to the Provincial Alliance, along with Certificates of Merit and Commemorative Medals for the Cause of Vietnamese Literature and Arts to individuals. The Provincial People’s Committee also presented Certificates of Merit to the Alliance and individuals for their outstanding contributions to the Alliance’s activities during the 2020-2025 period. 

By P. MAI
Translated by ANH DUC